FOX Sports FIFA Women’s World Cup Morning Highlights – Monday, June 29
FOX Sports’ coverage of the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015™ continues tonight with a special edition of FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TONIGHT at 12:00 AM ET on FOX Sports 1. Host Kate Abdo, co-host Eric Wynalda and analysts Ariane Hingst, Monica Gonzalez and Leslie Osborne are joined by game analyst Aly Wagner to preview the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015™ semifinals, as the USA faces Germany tomorrow and Japan takes on England on Wednesday.
See below for FOX Sports’ upcoming FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015™ schedule and for highlights of last night’s FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TONIGHT.
MONDAY’S SCHEDULE
12:00 AM ET – FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TONIGHT, FOX Sports 1
SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE
Tuesday, June 30: USA vs. Germany / Montreal / Coverage at 6:00 PM ET on FOX
Wednesday, July 1: Japan vs. England / Edmonton / Coverage at 6:00 PM ET on FOX Sports 1
PRESS CALL REMINDER: FOX Sports FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015™ analysts Tony DiCicco and Heather Mitts and FOX Sports FIFA WORLD CUP Executive Producer David Neal preview the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015™ semifinals TODAY at 1:00 PM ET. See the attached advisory for details.
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TONIGHT Highlights:
Alexi Lalas is all-in on the Women’s World Cup:
“I’m totally in – absolutely in.
“If you just compare and contrast [the women’s game] with the men’s game, you lose some of the joy. To have so many people watching this, just getting into it – yes, it’s the same game; it’s soccer. But, there are differences, and you can’t let those differences dictate how you view it.
“This is awesome. It is as good, and in some ways even better than, the game and the men’s tournaments.”
Rob Stone says he sees the growth of women’s soccer through the eyes of two of his young sons:
“I have a third grade and a first grade boy who watch more soccer than they probably should. They are watching this tournament, and they are so invested. They don’t see male; they don’t see female – they see soccer players.”
Kelly Smith says Amy Rodriguez should start over Abby Wambach vs. Germany:
“Amy Rodriguez is so dynamic with her movement, and you don’t get that from Wambach. If I was Jill Ellis, I’d start Amy Rodriguez. She impressed me in that last game.”
Former USWNT player Heather Mitts says the U.S. needs a strong performance from its midfield to beat Germany:
“Where Germany is most suspect is their two center backs, and if we have speed like we do with Alex Morgan and possibly Amy Rodriguez, that’s where we can take advantage of them. The midfield needs to be better – more compact; no silly giveaways. The game will be won in the midfield for the U.S.”
USWNT defender Ali Krieger talked to FOX Sports USWNT Insider Jenny Taft about the added motivation she has against Germany, having played for a club in Frankfurt:
“I played with five or six of the [German] players, and I have so much respect for them. Playing in Germany helped me get to where I am today. I have a lot of loyalty to the club team I used to play for in Frankfurt, and I have a lot of respect for the players and for Silvia Neid. It’s going to be a great match. They’re such a good team. We’re ready, we’re focused, and it gives me a little bit of extra motivation to want to play well.”
Kelly Smith says Hope Solo is the best goalkeeper in the world:
“Hope Solo makes saves in the corners that she just shouldn’t get – you’re celebrating and she comes up and tips it over the bar. She’s just fantastic. I played with Hope Solo for the Philadelphia Charge, so I know just how good she is. She’s so commanding back there. I’ve scored on [German goalkeeper Nadine] Angerer; I’ve never scored on Hope Solo.”
Ariane Hingst disagrees, and says Germany’s Nadine Angerer is better:
“I’ve been playing with Nadine Angerer for several years now, and the saves she makes to keep your team alive are just incredible. Without her, Germany wouldn’t be in the semifinals.
“I never actually played with Hope Solo, but with all the stories that have been going on, I want a team player. I don’t want an antagonist in the goal.”
